crafting modernism
The Mid-Century Interior Revealed
While many of us are familiar with mid-century design, particularly mid-century furniture, we are often left asking what these interiors looked like. The answer may surprise you.
beauty in all things
The Energy of Paper
Remember that project in elementary school where you made paper out of gluey pulp and let it dry? For most of us, that’s the extent of seeing paper as anything near to art. This is not the case for Japanese artist Yoshio Ikezaki, who has made a career out of creating stunning pieces of paper using unusual materials and innovative techniques.
beauty in all things
Style and Function
The title of MAD’s recently opened show ‘Beauty in All Things,’ is the core design philosophy that Japanese artists have carried around for centuries. Style and function should exist harmoniously within an object, constantly inspiring and invigorating the user. This is no less true for today’s Japanese designers, who have injected an aesthetic spirit into everyday objects. Continue Reading for some examples!
crafting modernism
Documentary about Ray and Charles Eames
I’m excited to see the documentary Eames: The Architect and The Painter all about legendary husband-and-wife design team Charles and Ray Eames. I thought our readers and fellow mid-century design aficionados would be interested too.
in the studio
Update
It’s Marianne, and it has been a while since I finished my residency in April The teaset and bowls I worked on during my residency have been produced in porcelain and they are now available in stores!
in the studio
Companion Ancester Arrives
My original idea for a sculpture to be made at the MAD museum was to create Janus heads with an ancestor figure base. I never abandon a piece and will continue working on it in my studio until it is complete. The excitement of not knowing the outcome is part of the process.
beauty in all things
Modern-day Noah’s Ark to Benefit Japan Earthquake Relief at Design Saves Lives
If the March 2011 tsunami and earthquake taught the world anything, it’s the enduring spirit of the Japanese people. Please visit DesignSavesLives.org to learn more about how you can get involved and contribute to a solution.
beauty in all things
Beauty in All Things Opens!
Attention Design enthusiasts! Our show, ‘Beauty in All Things’ has opened! Be among the first to see some amazing examples of contemporary Japanese design, taken from MAD’s permanent collection. We are excited to feature works that examine how artists have challenged and interpreted methods, materials and techniques while remaining true to the spirit of Japanese aesthetics. I interviewed the exhibition’s curator, Jennifer Scanlan, about the philosophy behind Beauty in All Things, and why it’s the show to see this winter!
beauty in all things
A Sense for Space
For the first time in ten years, internationally renowned artist Shihoku Fukumoto is showing her breathtaking Indigo Cube—Mist (1991), a tea ceremony room comprised of indigo-dyed linen, Japanese paper and aluminum. Fukumoto’s work speaks on a material level, referencing generations of traditional dyeing techniques, but also represents an important facet of Japanese culture.
beauty in all things
Restraint and Spontaneity
Intimately connected with the subject of form in Japanese design is the aesthetic of Shibui- profound, unassuming and quiet feeling. … this simple adjective is the final criterion for the highest form of beauty.
